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Bangkok to Vientiane by train (?) - Laos Forum

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Bangkok to Vientiane by train (?)

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From Bangkok I'm planning to take the daytime train no. 75, which arrives at Nong Khai at 17:30 pm. I already booked my ticket online.

My question is about the way from Nong Khai station to Vientiane city center. As per my knowledge, there is no shuttle train to Laos, Thanaleng connecting to this train.

Will there be a bus service to the road border crossing? What do think, could roughly be my arrival time in Vientiane city center?

For the way back two weeks later: I booked a ticket for train no. 26, departure 19:40 pm from Nong Khai. As per seat61 there should be a shuttle train from Laos, Thanaleng station.

By the way: Does anybody know, on which date (should be in April) the extension of the line to Vientiane station.

Best regards and many thanks for any helpful replies,

4 replies to this topic

Not taken the train. Not sure about bus from the station, you will probably need to take a tuk tuk to the bridge, then get on a bus which takes you over the bridge. Enter Laos, clear immigration. Then walk a short distance. You should see a bus stop. There are buses into city centre. #14 is one. Cost is low can't remember the exact amount.

Rates at the border are poor. So don't change a lot, 200-300 baht should be enough for bus and some dinner.

Thai baht is the best currency to change into Lao Kip.

The Nong Khai station is less than 1km from the border post - so can be walked, or there are always tuktuks waiting for you.

I was hoping that the new train travelling straight through would solve any problems but from the replies here it seems that it won't improve anything.

the Lao side border shuts at 10, so as long as your train gets in before 9ish you can go direct to vientiane. The Thai immigration post is only a 2-3 minute tuktuk from the station and there are no queues on Thai or Lao side at that time.

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Visiting Laos 🇱🇦 - Vientiane Forum

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Visiting Laos 🇱🇦

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1) is it safe to take a night sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane? How’s the typical immigration process at the border?

2) is Laos in general (Vientiane + Luang Prabang) worth visiting? How many days are usually fine to uncover Luang Prabang?

Laos is not really into my list but since I’m already in Bangkok I thought it’d be great to give it a try. I’ve got 5 days only to explore the country.

Many thanks!

5 replies to this topic

Yes night train is pretty safe.

Border crossing is usually easy. Bring US$40 plus a few more $1 for fees. If you pay in Baht it will be more, amounts vary but expect to pay 1,600 baht or more. Bring 1 passport size photo, if you have one.

Yes well worth visiting.

With only 5 days, I would say 1 day Vientiane, rest in Luang Prabang.

Then how will you leave?

2) Are you Singaporean? If yes, you won't need a visa - so no 40$ needed...

Took the train a couple of days ago. It is very safe, comfortable and reliable. The border crossing is also very easy and straightforward.

I would suggest to give it a try. In my opinion, it is much experience than flying!

Best regards, Matthias

From the border you can take a bus into Vientiane, takes about 30 minutes, it is cheap.

Yes scrap the part about $40, if Singaporean.

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Buses from Bangkok to Vientiane

Best options, other options, bangkok to vientiane bus schedule, transportation from bangkok to vientiane.

• Trains RUB 8,264
• Buses RUB 2,498
• Flights RUB 10,341
• Taxis RUB 50,602
• Vans RUB 3,547
• Ferries are not available

Facts about the bus from Bangkok to Vientiane

Bangkok to vientiane destination reviews, popular routes, from bangkok.

• Bangkok → Pattaya
• Bangkok → Chiang Mai
• Bangkok → Phuket
• Bangkok → Koh Samui
• Bangkok → Hua Hin
• Chiang Mai → Bangkok
• Pattaya → Bangkok
• Phuket → Bangkok
• Hua Hin → Bangkok
• Koh Samui → Bangkok

From Vientiane

• Vientiane → Luang Prabang
• Vientiane → Vang Vieng
• Vientiane → Bangkok
• Vientiane → Pakse
• Vientiane → Hanoi

To Vientiane

• Luang Prabang → Vientiane
• Vang Vieng → Vientiane
• Chiang Mai → Vientiane
• Hanoi → Vientiane
• Siem Reap → Vientiane

Popular Routes in Thailand

• Phuket → Koh Phi Phi
• Phuket → Krabi

How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by Bus

Taking a bus to get from Bangkok to Vientiane is a safe, comfortable and less expensive alternative for traveling this route. To popular destinations, bus companies operate multiple trips per day, often round the clock at 30-60 minute intervals. To less traveled destinations, there may be only 1 scheduled trip a day. The most common bus types are non-air-conditioned, air-conditioned, and premium buses.

It is best to reserve your tickets at least a few days ahead of your travel date. Check our list of bus companies available for online booking offering Bangkok to Vientiane tickets. When traveling on weekends and holidays it is recommended to reserve tickets much earlier due to higher numbers of travelers, both vacation-makers and urban workers returning home to their provincial home.

How far is it from Bangkok to Vientiane?

Traveling by bus, the distance from Bangkok to Vientiane depends on the route taken. Most bus companies travel via expressways or tollways. This may not necessarily be the shortest route but it is the fastest one as normally there is less traffic and no traffic lights.

To get to certain island destinations which are not connected to the mainland by a bridge, buses board large car ferries. Passengers are usually asked to get off the bus, but there is no need to take your luggage from the bus. The travel distance from port to port is added to the total distance.

How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by Bus?

The estimate travel time from Bangkok to Vientiane is about 13h. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Bangkok and Vientiane may differ greatly There is usually more traffic between morning until afternoon during weekdays than during weekends.

Another important factor that may affect travel time is the type of bus. Premium or VIP buses are usually faster as they use motorways and call to fewer bus stations (if any) en route. Buses normally make short 10-30-minute breaks after a few hours of continuous travel to allow passengers use bathrooms, stock up on munchies and let bus attendants and the driver have rest.

Some premium buses have onboard toilets and the second driver. Nevertheless, usually they still make en route stops for a quick lunch or fuel refill.

How much does it cost to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by Bus?

The ticket price from Bangkok to Vientiane can vary depending on the type of buses you choose. For a less expensive ticket consider non-air-conditioned or ordinary buses. Premium or luxury buses are more expensive but you can expect more comfort and some additional services like phone charging ports, personal entertainment system screens and toilets.

Bangkok to Vientiane timetable

To help you plan your trip, here is the Bangkok to Vientiane timetable of bus departure and arrival times.

Best Rated Companies for this Route

Bus companies differ a lot in quality and service they provide. When choosing a bus company for you travels, do some basic research before you buy your tickets.

Safety is one of the most important aspects to consider. We also recommend you checking reviews on overall service quality of the bus companies serving this route.

Our service only partners with reliable and trustworthy bus companies. We do our best to provide your a choice of the best operators available on each route.

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